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Nick Swisher hit a go-ahead grand slam as part of a five-RBI performance, and New York overtook
Texas for the best record in the American League with an 8-2 victory over the Rangers last
night.

Eric Chavez also homered and fill-in starter David Phelps pitched five solid innings as the
Yankees won for the fifth time in six games to move one-half game ahead of the Rangers.

New York trailed 2-0 before a five-run third inning, highlighted by Swisher’s second grand slam
of the season. The blast to right field off Texas starter Ryan Dempster was Swisher’s 200th career
homer. Curtis Granderson capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to deep center.

Nationals not wild about plans to shut down Strasburg

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made the decision long ago to limit pitcher
Stephen Strasburg to between 160 and 180 innings this season, to protect his right arm as he
pitches in his first full season after elbow ligament-replacement surgery. Rizzo is thinking about
the long-term interest of the franchise and trying to protect the precious future of a 24-year-old
with unbounded potential.

Inside the Nationals’ clubhouse, the decision is understood. It is also unpopular. Players live
in the moment. They are aware that no matter how promising Strasburg’s and the Nationals’ futures
appear, they may never have another moment like this one. And their front office, righteous in its
belief, will ask them to play without their best pitcher.

“I get their side,” first baseman Adam LaRoche said. “But our side is, the playoffs aren’t
guaranteed. You don’t want to shut your best guy down — or one of your best guys, because we’ve got
a bunch of them — if you’re never going to go back there. If I knew for the next two or three years
we’re going to go back, then it’s probably an easy decision.

“From my side of it, I’m sure (Ryan Zimmerman), Jayson (Werth), (Mark DeRosa), guys who have
been around a while, it’s tough to go out there and bust it every night, then turn around and have
one of your best guys shut down. Are we going to pout about it? No. We’re not going to go yell at
Rizzo or (manager Davey Johnson). No, it is what it is. It’ll be frustrating, but apparently we’re
going to have to deal with it, because I think they’ve made up their minds.”